Unbound Gravel 200: Karolina Migoń takes emphatic solo victory in Emporia to continue winning streak

Karolina Migoń (PAS Racing) has captured the elite women's race at Unbound Gravel 200, continuing a winning streak with a resounding solo victory on a fast and furious day of racing in Kansas.

By around 50 miles to go, Migoń had taken off from a leading group of three and was en route for her Unbound 200 victory. Her latest triumph rounded out a hugely successful month, which started with a second successive victory at The Traka 360, continued on at Gravel Locos, and concluded at Unbound 200 with a winning time of 10:03:54, setting a record in the women's division for fastest average speed of 20.12 mph. 

That was more than eight minutes ahead of second-placed PAS teammate Cecily Decker, who had been in a group of three trailing Migoń before she pushed on alone. 

"I didn’t know if I was stupid or a genius," said Migoń of her long solo effort. "I didn’t know if I would make it to the finish, I would say, until the last 5km. I knew that Cecily was back, I also knew she was super strong. But you also can have a flat, you can have a crash, you never know."

However, this time there were no issues for the rider, who had finished 21st last year on her race debut after succumbing to punctures and a mechanical. 

A chasing group of four decided the fight for third, with Sofia Gomez Villafañe (Specialized) taking the podium spot in a tightly-run sprint. Last year's winner Rosa Klöser (Canyon-SRAM-MAAP) was fourth ahead of Cecile Lejeune (CCB p/b Levine Law) and Lauren De Crescenzo (Factor).

Decker moved level on points with Villafañe at the top of the women’s overall standings in the Life Time Grand Prix, Unbound Gravel 200 serving as the second stop in the six-race series.

How it unfolded

It didn’t take long after the women rolled out from the start line in Emporia, Kansas in the early morning light for the splits to occur. A group of four riders moved away from the women's field in the first eight miles - Gabby Traxler (Enough Cycling), Kirstine Frida Rysbjerg (Castelli SOG), Haley Smith (Trek Driftless) and Ann-Christine Allik - and opened a 20-second gap.

After a big effort on Kaw Hill Road and with the opening 32 miles covered, Traxler took a solo lead of 2:27 over Smith, Frida Rysbjerg and Allik, with Paige Onweller (Trek Driftless) another minute back and a gap of around four minutes to yet more rivals.

PAS Racing duo Decker and Migoń were joined by Lauren Stephens (Ventum-ENVE Composites) to take over the lead from Traxler after they bridged across just before the Alma aid station, with 132 miles to go.

The trio blasted through the checkpoint on the northern end of the front half of the course and moved away. Traxler was maintaining fourth, with Smith just behind her in fifth.

Meanwhile, former Unbound 200 winner Carolin Schiff (Canyon) had punctured while riding in the main group of favourites, which trailed the leaders by seven minutes. The day for Klara Sofie Skovgård Hansen (Canyon Factory Racing) ended as she crashed and withdrew from the race due to an injury. It was a similar story for Emily Newsom (PAS Racing), who went down in another crash in the early miles, rode back into a chase group, but withdrew at Alma when she began to feel unwell.

The trio built up a 10-minute margin as they hit the technical Little Egypt section and as they headed to the final aid station, they had another four minutes to their advantage.

With 70 miles to go, the PAS Racing and Stephens pounded the gravel under the radiant sunshine with the temperature warming to 26°C (mid-80s Fahrenheit), any wet spots now dry and the rolling of tyres now beginning to stir up a little dust. The chase group was whittled down to just eight riders - Geerike Schreurs (SD Worx-Protime), defending champion Rosa Klöser (Canyon-SRAM-MAAP), De Crescenzo, Lejeune, Morgan Aguirre (PAS Racing), Villafañe, Sarah Lange and Annika Langvad. Emma Langley, Whitney Allison, Maude Farrell and Alexis Skarda were in a group about 30 seconds further back.

After Council Bluff and 48 miles to go, Migoń was on her own, having dropped Decker and Stephens from the lead group. There was initially a unified chase of four behind with De Crescenzo, Villafañe, Klöser and Lejeune together in pursuit of Migoń as they worked through Kaholo Hill. 

Decker remained in the middle with a gap of about six minutes at 25 miles to go, while Stephens fell back to the pursuing group of four and then was dropped by them. They were around 16 minutes back at 25 miles to go while Migoń continued out front, picking her way through the riders on course from other distances and categories. 

However, then the cohesion faltered in the group which included the three former winners and French rider Lejeune, who had won Oregon Trail Gravel last year, as Villafañe was not keen to come on through and take a turn.

That meant with around 13 miles to go, Migoń was making the most of the favourable wind, holding the gap to Decker at close to seven minutes, and nearly 17 minutes to the group as the riders drew ever closer to the closing challenge of Highland Hill.

By the time Migoń had reached that last climb, her victory looked assured and she could afford to smile and enjoy the moment as she crested the climb and headed toward downtown Emporia.

Decker came across the line next while the four chasers were together for a sprint, Klöser making it hard on herself by taking a late wrong turn just outside a kilometre to go. She was quickly back and readying for the dash to the line, but couldn’t overcome Villafañe.

With Decker having taken second behind Migoń – who isn't part of the Life Time Grand Prix series – and Villafañe coming third, the pair are now tied on points at the top of the overall leaderboard. 

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